Creative energy, a new vision statement emphasizing preeminence in Cytopathology, and a mission statement emphasizing excellence in patient care permeated this year's National Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia. Thanks to the Scientific Program Committee, chaired by Mary Sidawy, the program content, and quality of speakers was the finest in my memory of over 30 years membership in the ASC. Cytopathology has definitely come of age! No longer do we have to apologize for this fledgling medical specialty, as we did in the 1950's and 60's. No longer do we have to fight for recognition as a medical specialty by the AMA, as we did in the 1970's. No longer are we reactionary to bad press and onerous federal regulation as we were in the 1980's. After the challenges of the 1990's, including automated devices designed to improve the false negative rate, and the threat of mandatory proficiency testing to eliminate inept cytologists, we now enter the new millennium with more challenges than ever before. We can also have more confidence in the viability of our specialty because of the ever expanding opportunities of molecular and genetics based diagnostics. Cytological samples are the perfect substrate for this exciting and exploding technology.

The ASC is a small professional society when compared with other similar societies. However, for us to have 25% attendance at an annual meeting, as we did last year, in the face of increasing financial and workplace restrictions, is indeed a tribute to a dedicated membership. Under the direction of presidents Diane Solomon and Ron Luff, and past-president David Kaminsky, the five-year strategic plan for the Society has been created, revised and approved by the Executive Board and is ready for implementation by the membership. All of the committees have their charges that are based on components of the strategic plan. Each of the committees will be responsible for establishing milestones, goals, and a timeline by which they will measure their progress over this year and the next five years. This continuity will assure that the end of a president's term does not mean the work starts again anew with a new president. We also emphasized during the meeting itself the transfer from Ron Luff to me, hopefully giving the meeting a forward direction rather than simply a review of the last year's accomplishments. With the essential support of a newly reorganized and staffed Central Office, the future looks very enticing.

Many of the traditional functions of the ASC are still vigorous, such as the CPRC, CAC, Scientific Program Committee and Membership Committee. After the successful completion of the Practice Guidelines for Gynecologic Cytopathology, the Cytopathology Practice Committee has now been charged with developing similar guidelines for specimens from other body sites. Laboratory accreditation is no longer a responsibility of the ASC, as the decision was made to forego the opportunity to obtain from HCFA deemed status of our laboratory accreditation process. Rather, the committee is now focused on providing laboratory advice (Laboratory Advisory Committee). New efforts to promote advocacy were showcased during the Philadelphia meeting with the Art and Advocacy Program, a highlight of the five days. Educational development, so successful in the continued production of the cytopathology teleconferences, has now begun exploration of interactive web-based media for creation of virtual meetings and home bound CME activities. The Current Concepts and New Technologies Committee will enlarge its scope. Judging by the excited responses to the New Frontiers in Cytology lecture by David Sidransky, and The State of the Art Symposium, this committee will be fully engaged throughout the year. Finally, in its sincere desire to enfranchise as many cytotechnologists as possible, the CAC has reconfigured the criteria for the cytotechnology voting membership. Since the Society is an AMA member, only 15% of our membership can be non-medical members. Therefore, in order to increase our cytotechonology membership, we will have to increase our M.D. membership. If you read this as a challenge and a mandate, you're reading correctly!

I encourage all of you to keep pace with the activities of the ASC and to participate as often as your schedule and energy permit. Thanks to the miracle of our electronic age, e-mail will be an important vehicle of communication, so please stay subscribed to our ASC membership listserver, and simply use your delete button whenever a topic is of no interest. The Bulletin will have a new face, and Jamie Covell will solicit summary articles from the various committees and our representatives to all of our linked organizations. Our web-site will be re-designed to allow changes easily for frequent updates. A "Members Only" section will contain privileges only for those members whose dues are current. I'm not going to spill any secrets now, as I want you to be tempted to log on yourself as soon as we announce that this special section is available.

I am very humbled and privileged to be your president. I welcome your input on any topic relative to our craft. I can't imagine a more exciting specialty in which to practice, and I believe that with your participation, the ASC will spearhead the growth and recognition of Cytopathology as a specialty ready for the future. The Future is Now! Get involved and Make a Difference!!